Echeveria plant named ‘Orion’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Echeveria  plant named ‘Orion’ that is characterized by grey-green leaves with grey-red margins and tips and a compact habit.

Botanical classification: Echeveria lilacina×E. pulidonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Orion’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEcheveria plant botanically known as Echeveria lilacina×E. pulidonis andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Orion’.

‘Orion’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parent, anunnamed proprietary Echeveria lilacina cultivar, and the male or pollenparent, an unnamed proprietary Echeveria pulidonis cultivar. Thecrossing was conducted in 2006 in Kudelstaart, Netherlands. Theresulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar‘Orion’ was selected by the inventor in 2008 in a controlled environmentas a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivatedarea of Kudelstaart, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Orion’ first occurred by leafcuttings in 2008 in Kudelstaart, Netherlands. Since that time, undercareful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newEcheveria cultivar ‘Orion’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Orion’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of Echeveria known by the inventor.

-   -   1. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits grey-green leaves with grey-red        margins and tips.    -   2. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits a compact habit.

The closest comparison cultivar is the co-pending application cultivarEcheveria ‘Hercules’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.13/998,627). ‘Orion’ is distinguishable from ‘Hercules’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits darker grey-green leaves than the        leaves of ‘Hercules’.    -   2. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits a leaf tip that is less red in        color than the leaf tip of ‘Hercules’.    -   3. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits a larger overall plant size than        the plant size of ‘Hercules’.

‘Orion’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, an unnamedproprietary Echeveria lilacina cultivar, by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Echeveria ‘Orion’ exhibits a more upright habit than the        habit of the female parent plant.    -   2. The leaves of ‘Orion’ are narrower than the leaves of the        female parent plant.    -   3. The leaves of ‘Orion’ have grey-red margins. The margins of        the female parent plant are the same color as the leaves.

‘Orion’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant, an unnamedproprietary Echeveria pulidonis cultivar, by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. The leaves of ‘Orion’ are shorter than the leaves of the male        parent plant.    -   2. The leaves of ‘Orion’ have grey-red margins. The margins of        the male parent plant are red.    -   3. The leaves of ‘Orion’ are grey-green in color. The leaves of        the male parent plant are green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographs illustrate the distinguishing traits ofEcheveria ‘Orion’.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a 14 month old plant.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the leaves.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Echeveria cultivarnamed ‘Orion’. Data was collected in Kudelstaart, Netherlands from 14month old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 10.5 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Autumn and the temperature range was18-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 12-18 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retards were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘Orion’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria lilacina×E. pulidonis ‘Orion’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Orion’ is a hybrid of the female parent an unnamed    proprietary Echeveria lilacina cultivar and the male parent an    unnamed proprietary Echeveria pulidonis cultivar.-   Plant type: Pot plant.-   Plant shape: Basal rosette.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 5.7 cm.-   Plant width: 13.6 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 14 days at 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 21 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 120 days at 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 150 days at 20° C.-   Growth rate: Approximately 0.5 cm. per month.-   Crop time: Approximately 5 months from July to November in    Kudelstaart, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Root color: N155.-   Plant fragrance: Absent.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal rosette.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Average 75.        -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate, slightly carinate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—5.3 cm. in length and 2.7 cm. in width.        -   Leaf thickness.—0.7 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces, succulent.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Venation pattern.—None visible.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—197A, base 136C, margins            and tip 182C, upper surface covered by waxy layer 188A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—191A with tinges of N77C,            margins and tip 182D, lower surface covered by waxy layer            95D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—N200B, base 146C, margins            and tip 182B, upper surface covered by waxy layer 188A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—197A, base 191A, margins            and tip 182C, lower surface covered by waxy layer that            varies between 95D and 188B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Flower: ‘Orion’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘Orion’ has not produced fruit or seed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaplant named ‘Orion’ as described and illustrated.